As forecast, 2024 has been less successful than last year. Events which directly impact the results are coming together, including the further winding down at VDL Nedcar, the unfavourable situation caused by the delayed deliveries by the Buses & Coaches division, delays in the market and rising costs (wages, interest, legislation). The combined turnover has fallen. On a positive note, excluding the Car Assembly division, there has been a slight rise in turnover. In the second half of 2024, the turnover will be in line with the turnover for the first six months. The results are expected to show the first steps on the road to recovery.

Peter Wennink has joined the Supervisory Board of VDL Groep. On 1 September 2024, the 67-year-old former CEO of chip machine maker ASML joined the Supervisory Board of the industrial family business with its headquarters in Eindhoven.

VDL Groep is acquiring parts of the Flemish bus manufacturer Van Hool. The family-owned industrial company headquartered in Eindhoven (NL) is acquiring parts of the bankrupt Van Hool in Belgium. VDL is also acquiring Van Hool’s production facility in North Macedonia. By acquiring these Van Hool plants, VDL Groep plans to further strengthen the activities of its Buses division. The acquisition will immediately save around 1,600 jobs in the high-quality European bus industry. The amounts involved in the acquisition are not being disclosed.

To increase the necessary and sought-after productivity levels in construction, the sector needs some fresh perspective. That includes working with a universal construction system that allows third parties to independently design and complete buildings within construction times that are up to four times faster. This is one of the concepts to be shared by VDL De Meeuw, specialist in ‘flex goods’, on Tuesday 11, Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 June 2024 at the Provada real estate fair at RAI Amsterdam.

After 11 and 6 years of service respectively, Guustaaf Savenije (66) and Paul van Vuuren (65), both members of the VDL Groep's Executive Board for 3.5 years, will retire with effect from 1 July 2024.

Hermes presented its brand new generation of Citea buses to the public on Monday, 27 May 2024. With the deployment of the first 32 of a total of 64 new generation Citeas from VDL Bus & Coach, Hermes is now in possession of the entirely new generation of Zero-Emission buses in North Brabant.

The OrderOn.com online platform is set to expand. Sister companies VDL HMI and VDL Industrial Modules are joining VDL Groep’s digital metalworking platform. The platform will also be expanded to include new processing services and materials. All these developments will strengthen OrderOn.com’s position as the platform where high-quality metalworking services come together online. VDL Groep launched OrderOn.com in 2022, via its supply company VDL Technics in Boxtel.

VDL Castings Heerlen plans to phase out operations and cease business activities over the course of 2024. To this effect, a request for advice has been submitted to the Works Council. The employees, unions and Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) have been informed. All of the 140 employees of VDL Groep iron foundry, including approximately 115 permanent staff, will be laid off. The intention is to help them transition from employment to employment, either within a VDL Groep sister company or otherwise. VDL is exploring other activities for the site of VDL Castings Heerlen.

VDL Groep has strengthened its position in the high-quality electronics market. The industrial family business with its head office in Eindhoven has acquired Rena Electronica from Zundert. Rena Electronica develops and produces electronics, among others for LED products, in different markets. As a result of this acquisition, VDL particularly sees synergy benefits with VDL TBP Electronics, the subsidiary based in Dirksland and Eindhoven, which specialises in the assembly of high-quality electronics, so-called printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), circuit boards with electronic components.

As previously announced, due to the planned production stop for BMW Group and the inability to find direct connection with other automotive projects, VDL Nedcar in Born is forced to cut jobs by 1 March 2024. The formal request for advice on this was submitted to the Works Council (OR). Parallel to this, VDL Nedcar, VDL Groep’s car factory, continues to work on new vehicle projects.

VDL Groep is going to serial-assemble battery systems at the Mobility Innovation Centre (MIC) in Born. BMW Group has placed an initial, long-term order. VDL will assemble approximately 125,000 battery modules for the German car brand’s after sales business until at least 2035. This means the cooperation with BMW Group will be continued after 10 years of producing cars at VDL Nedcar. VDL is in discussions with other potential clients for the serial assembly of battery systems (battery modules and/or battery packs).

VDL Groep achieved this year’s growth forecast in the first half of 2023. The industrial family business with its head office in Eindhoven is on track to achieve a 5 to 10 percent increase in turnover growth in 2023. Net profit declined after the first six months of the year, although the net operating result has grown. 

Schaeffler and VDL Groep are jointly exploring the development and production of a new generation of self-driving electric shuttles for public transport. The two family-owned companies will be showing a first demonstrator of the vehicle at IAA Mobility in Munich. The prototype, which integrates Mobileye autonomous driving technology, and all relevant automotive electrification and steering technology can be experienced until Friday 8 September, 2023, at the booth of VDL Groep (hall B3, booth B21) as well at the booth of Schaeffler (hall B3, booth B40).

VDL Groep, the family-owned industrial company headquartered in Eindhoven, will be manufacturing and supplying aluminium bicycle frames. VDL Bike Frame Technologies is now finalising its fully automated production line. Millions have been invested in this new operation. Production will begin on this production line starting this summer, at sister company VDL Steelweld in Breda. QWIC will be the first customer of VDL Bike Frame Technologies. Over the next three years, VDL will supply 50,000 bicycle frames to this Dutch bicycle brand. Many additional bicycle brands have also expressed interest in 'homegrown' frames.